Xi Jinping’s Latest Speech Caused a Rebuke of International Criticism

Xi Jinping’s Latest Speech Caused a Rebuke of International Criticism On September 3, the 75th anniversary of the end of World War II, leader of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) Xi Jinping made a speech that caused a stir on the Chinese internet. Xi spoke about five things that “Chinese people will never agree to,” which ignited uproar among netizens who believed Xi had no right to speak on behalf of the Chinese populace. Meanwhile, some China commentators analyzed that Xi was sending a subtle message to the international community about their growing criticism of the Chinese regime. U.S. Ambassador to China, Retiring in October The U.S. embassy in China has announced that ambassador Terry Branstad will retire and leave Beijing early next month. Branstad, 73, is a former governor of Iowa. He first forged ties with President Xi Jinping several decades ago when Xi visited Iowa. Last week, Branstad tried to publish an article in China’s ‘People’s Daily’ titled “Resetting the Relationship Based on Reciprocity.” The “People’s Daily” refused to publish it. U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said, it shows how much the Chinese regime fears "their own people’s free-thinking" and the "free world’s judgment" about their governing practices inside China. Pompeo said Branstad’s contributions will have ‘lasting, positive effects on U.S. foreign policy’ for decades to come. Over 5,000 Canadians Spied on by Military-Linked Chinese Company On September 3, the 75th anniversary of the end of World War II, leader of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) Xi Jinping made a speech that caused a stir on the Chinese internet. Xi spoke about five things that “Chinese people will never agree to,” which ignited uproar among netizens who believed Xi had no right to speak on behalf of the Chinese populace. Meanwhile, some China commentators analyzed that Xi was sending a subtle message to the international community about their growing criticism of the Chinese regime. Bank records, job applications, and psychological profiles were also included in the data, much of which was taken from information in the public domain, including news articles, criminal records, Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, Instagram, and TikTok. The database was leaked by an anonymous employee of Zhenhua Data and discovered by Professor Chris Balding, who worked at Peking University until 2018 when he fled to Vietnam over safety concerns. 12 Hong Kongers Arrested and Detained in Mainland China At the end of August, 12 Hong Kongers were arrested by the CCP’s maritime police while trying to flee to Taiwan by sea. They were detained secretly for more than 20 days. On September 13, the Yantian Branch of the Shenzhen Municipal Public Security Bureau announced that the 12 people had been under criminal detention on suspicion of illegally crossing the border. These 12 people, including “Hong Kong Story” member Li Yuxuan and other Hong Kong youths who had participated in the anti-extradition movement, were intercepted by the Guangdong Coast Guard on their way to Taiwan on August 23 and detained in the Shenzhen Yantian Detention Center. On September 11, the U.S. Secretary of State Pompeo stated that The United States is "deeply disturbed that Hong Kong democracy activists, arrested two weeks ago, have been denied access to lawyers of their choice. We hope Chief Executive Lam’s stated commitment to protecting the rights of Hong Kong residents is more than just words."